 |
 Basketball Betting |
 |
||||
|
 |
||||
|
||||
Bobcats aim to even series in OrlandoBasketball Betting Lines04/21/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Charlotte Bobcats hope to pick up the franchise's first-ever postseason win and even their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinals set with the heavily-favored Orlando Magic tonight. The defending East champion Magic took a 1-0 series lead on Sunday when Jameer Nelson scored 24 of his playoff career-high 32 points in the first half, as Orlando held off the Charlotte, 98-89, in Game 1. Nelson also dished out six assists for the second-seeded Magic, who won six straight games to end the regular season. Rashard Lewis donated 19 points and five rebounds for Orlando, which is appearing in the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season. "The last couple weeks, we really haven't played a real tough defensive team," said Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy. "Everything was pretty easy offensively. So we've got to adjust to a much more intense, much more physical defense, and I think it's good that we got out with the win." Mickael Pietrus tallied 14 points off the bench, while Vince Carter had 12 points before fouling out late in the fourth. Dwight Howard, who was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season on Tuesday, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked nine shots despite scoring just five points. Gerald Wallace finished with 25 points and 17 rebounds for the Bobcats, while Raymond Felton chipped in 19 points in defeat. "For us, we're a little nervous to start out the game, and they knew it," Wallace said. "They took advantage of it and came out and punched us in the mouth. They made shots, and we didn't to start the game off." Charlotte held its breath at the end of the first half when star swingman Stephen Jackson went down. Jackson, who ended with 18 points and nine rebounds, collided with Wallace while going for a loose ball. Jackson limped to the locker room for X-rays, which came back negative. The diagnosis was a hyperextended left knee, and Jackson was able to play in the second half. He is expected to start in tonight's contest. The Bobcats avoided a sweep in the regular season series with the Magic when they topped Orlando, 96-89, in central Florida on March 14. However, Orlando has won 12 of its last 14 overall vs. Charlotte, including Sunday's opener. Game 3 of this series is set for Saturday in Charlotte.
<< FCS hopefuls always Harbor big NFL dreams
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Some of the NFL draft hopefuls who trained alongside Clay Harbor at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., this past winter might have thought he was once one of Chase Daniel's favorite receivers at the Univer
<< Week 3 Pitcher Report
<< Kobe proves any rumors of his demise 'overrated'
<< Ex-Dolphin Jason Taylor, Jets agree to 2-year deal
<< Big Ten commissioner to end silence on expansion
Royals turn to Greinke in hopes of averting sweep by Jays >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals hope that Zack Greinke can reclaim some of that 2009 magic when his team tries to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon at Rogers Centre. Greinke won his first
Mavs shoot for 2-0 series lead over Spurs >>
Emotional Rockies try for another win over Nationals >>
Reds resume series with Dodgers >>
Mets aim to stay hot versus Cubs >>
MySportsbook.com week 1 NFL linesNow that the 2008 NFL schedule is finally out, it is only matter-of-course for lines on “Week 1” to follow. Of course MySportsbook.com is the first to churn out odds for the NFL’s inaugural week for the upcoming season. Expect a lot of fireworks the first Thursday night of the season as the defending champion Indianapolis Colts face off against the surprise of the 2008 season, the New Orleans Saints. These teams were ranked #1 and #3 in the NFL respectively a season ago so a high scoring affair could be in order. As of now, the Colts will be giving 6 points to the Saints; keep in mind the Saints were one of the better road teams last season going 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS. The first Monday night of the season will again provide a “double feature”. Coming off a disappointing season, the Cincinnati Bengals will look to get back to playoffs and improve their public image as they take on the AFC North favorite Baltimore Ravens. The second game features a couple of teams that haven’t had too much success recently but each could make some noise if the NFC is as weak as it was last year as the San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals. The most interesting game of the opening week will feature the NFC champion Bears as they hit the road to take on the NFL’s top team during last year’s regular season, the San Diego Chargers. MySportsbook.com Week 1 odds: Saints +6 @ Colts -6 Falcons @ Vikings (pick ‘em) Panthers @ Rams (pick ‘em) Broncos -3.5 @ Bills +3.5 Chiefs -1 @ Texans +1 Dolphins +3 @ Redskins -3 Patriots -5 @ Jets +5 Eagles -3.5 @ Packers +3.5 Steelers -4 @ Browns +4 Titans +6 @ Jaguars -6 Bears +6 @ Chargers -6 Lions +3 @ Raiders -3 Bucs +6.5 @ Seahawks -6.5 Giants +4 @ Cowboys -4 Ravens +3 @ Bengals -3 Cardinals +3 @ 49ers -3 Super Bowl line (2008) NFC +6.5 vs. AFC -6.5 MySportsbook is a large, publicly traded company with strong financial backing. You will find their customer service is second to none and their web site is extremely user friendly and easy-to-use. All major professional sports games are available. Once you signup with MySportsbook, you may never use another online sportsbook again. To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Horse Betting(This is an update of a sportsbook for the May 4th issue of ESPN The Magazine). The Kentucky Derby's post-position draw happened on Wednesday. And, as is always the case, shortly afterwards, a buzz raced around Churchill Downs. It was a low rumble at first, nothing that the squares in the mint julep crowd pick up right away. But by the time the sun set over the twin spires, the chatter was impossible to ignore. Everyone -- sharps, trainers, owners -- was talking about one thing: the wise guy horse, the pre-draw long shot us mopes didn't have on our radar until it was too late. "You think you're hearing the scoop," says handicapper Lane Gold. "Then you get to the window, the odds are short, and you missed it."
Recognizing a wise-guy horse early is as hard as picking a Derby bonnet. That's because handicappers don't like hype (see ya, I Want Revenge). They want Thoroughbreds who look good losing prep races like the Santa Anita Derby. They eye horses who ate up the field after starting wide or made an easy transition from synthetic tracks to dirt. They look for ponies who showed muscle gain race to race and those who ran hard after several weeks' rest. "A wise guy," says John Avello, a bookmaker at Wynn Las Vegas, "looks for a horse who can improve." When I first wrote Horse Betting for The Mag, which I turned in a three weeks before Wednesday's draw, I predicted these three horses had wise guy potential: CHOCOLATE CANDY (15-1 in mid-April, currently 20-1 according to Avello): His second-place finish at Santa Anita, following a seven-week layoff, proved two things: He can run after resting, and -- by losing a high-profile prep race -- he wouldn't be overhyped. DESERT PARTY (15-1; 15-1): He was upset in the UAE Derby by a horse he had beaten twice. The public remembers his loss, but the wise guys his wins. PIONEEROF THE NILE (8-1; 4-1): The big favorite at Santa Anita struggled to win, so he initially got less hype than Quality Road and I Want Revenge. You may have noticed that the odds on Pioneerof the Nile have been cut in half, from 8-1 to 4-1. Which means the wise guys took a shine to him long before the post-position draw. But, to be honest, this is one of those years with four elite horses getting everyone's attention, squares and sharps alike. "You're not gonna get a lot of chatter about a horse that isn't in that group, which includes Pioneer, I Want Revenge, Dunkirk and Friesan Fire," Avello told me Wednesday. "We don't have a group of horses behind those top four who look like real legit contenders." Come Derby week, the final two elements in picking a wise guy horse are how he's working out and what gate he's coming out of. (By the way, picking a Preakness favorite is a whole different bale of hay, partially based on how horses finish in the Derby. You can see my analysis of who has the best shot at Pimlico on Insider Sunday morning.) Well, early in the week I Want Revenge, Pioneerof the Nile and Friesan Fire were working out better than anyone. Some thought Friesan Fire, currently 6-1, might have run too fast, burning a five-furlong run in :57 4/5. "When you are running that fast you have the sense that it took something out of him," says Gold. "The Derby is longer than any horse has run, and if they need that extra surge you worry they won't have it because they burned it in the workout." But, Gold points out, Friesan Fire's trainer is Larry Jones, Two years ago his horse Hard Spun did a five-eighths workout in :57 3/5 and then went on to finish second, behind Street Sense, in the Derby. "Every trainer has different methods," says Gold. "And clearly he knows what he's doing." Now, as for starting position, Gold says to remember this: Churchill Downs traditionally has 14 starting gates. For the Derby, it brings out auxiliary gates and between the original 14th gate and the new 15th gate, there is a little more space than there is between gates 1-14. "That 15 position will give you a precious second or two to sort out what's happening to your inside," says Gold. "Sixteen is also okay because you can follow the horse in front of you." Dunkirk, one of the race favorites, is coming out of gate 15. In 16 is Baffert's Pioneerof the Nile. I Want Revenge drew 13, where Smarty Jones won from in 2004, and Friesan Fire picked the sixth position. "He doesn't have a lot of speed to the inside of him," says Gold. "So he will get a clear shot to be near the front." All the jibber-jabber means this: Pioneerof the Nile has leapfrogged from 8-1 to being the second favorite, along with Dunkirk, behind I Want Revenge. Meanwhile, Friesan Fire, with a good trainer, a strong week of training and a decent post position, is still at 6-1. "By Saturday, it's possible he could go from fourth to the favorite," says Gold. In other words, meet Friesan Fire, your 2009 wise guy horse. "Now," says Avello, "it's time for action." To visit this horse betting site go to MySportsbook.com for all your horse racing betting needs. |
|
